GITNUXREPORT 2025

Understanding Basic Statistics

Global digital literacy is vital but remains inadequate worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

In rural areas, only 40% of households have reliable internet access

Statistic 2

Only 58% of low-income households have internet access at home

Statistic 3

Nearly 60% of students in developing countries have never used a computer

Statistic 4

The global digital literacy rate is estimated at 60%, meaning 40% of the world's population is not digitally literate

Statistic 5

68% of public schools in low-income areas lack access to adequate digital devices

Statistic 6

55% of people in high-income countries have advanced digital literacy, versus 15% in low-income countries

Statistic 7

90% of cyberattacks begin with a phishing email, emphasizing the need for basic online safety knowledge

Statistic 8

Digital literacy reduces the risk of falling victim to online scams by 50%

Statistic 9

85% of adults believe that understanding digital security is essential for personal privacy

Statistic 10

85% of people worldwide believe that understanding basic digital skills is crucial for employment

Statistic 11

70% of adults in developing countries lack fundamental digital literacy

Statistic 12

Only 1 in 3 individuals have a basic understanding of online safety

Statistic 13

45% of adults worldwide do not know how to use email properly

Statistic 14

80% of jobs now require at least some basic digital skills

Statistic 15

55% of seniors lack essential digital skills to navigate online health information

Statistic 16

75% of small businesses believe digital skills are critical for growth

Statistic 17

50% of workers in the digital economy lack formal training in basic digital skills

Statistic 18

40% of residents in urban areas have basic digital literacy, compared to 15% in rural areas

Statistic 19

65% of teachers feel unprepared to teach digital skills effectively

Statistic 20

Only 35% of internet users worldwide understand what data privacy entails

Statistic 21

40% of organizations provide digital literacy training to their employees

Statistic 22

70% of youth in rural areas lack basic digital skills compared to 25% in urban areas

Statistic 23

70% of internet users in emerging economies do not have a digital skills foundation

Statistic 24

Only 25% of public libraries worldwide offer digital literacy programs

Statistic 25

50% of small business owners do not feel confident in managing digital marketing

Statistic 26

80% of workers believe that digital skills training should be a core part of ongoing professional development

Statistic 27

45% of adults in high-income countries reach a basic level of digital proficiency, whereas only 10% in low-income countries do

Statistic 28

60% of teachers think integrating digital literacy into the curriculum improves student engagement

Statistic 29

65% of internet users do not know how to set up privacy settings on social media

Statistic 30

40% of job postings now require basic digital skills as a prerequisite

Statistic 31

95% of youth believe that digital skills are important for future career success

Statistic 32

78% of digital skills training programs are underfunded in developing countries

Statistic 33

55% of adult learning programs worldwide now include some component of digital literacy training

Statistic 34

Only 30% of job seekers in low-income countries have basic digital skills

Statistic 35

50% of seniors do not use the internet regularly, often due to lack of digital skills

Statistic 36

72% of participants in digital literacy programs report increased confidence online

Statistic 37

33% of small businesses lack digital skills necessary for e-commerce

Statistic 38

90% of young people believe digital skills are essential for entrepreneurial success

Statistic 39

40% of adults in the US lack basic digital literacy skills

Statistic 40

Only 18% of online courses teach comprehensive digital literacy skills

Statistic 41

85% of organizations see digital literacy as vital for competitive advantage

Statistic 42

Digital literacy skills can improve productivity by up to 25%

Statistic 43

78% of college students feel unprepared for the digital skills needed in the workplace

Statistic 44

60% of online fraud victims had inadequate knowledge of online safety practices

Statistic 45

90% of digital jobs require some level of basic digital literacy

Statistic 46

48% of teachers worldwide feel confident teaching digital skills, but only 25% feel well-trained

Statistic 47

78% of teachers report needing more training to teach basic digital skills effectively

Statistic 48

65% of students with access to digital learning tools perform better academically

Statistic 49

60% of employers consider digital literacy essential for entry-level jobs

Statistic 50

Digital literacy can increase employment opportunities by up to 30%

Statistic 51

88% of employers state that digital skills are increasingly important in their workforce

Slide 1 of 51

Sources

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Key Highlights

85% of people worldwide believe that understanding basic digital skills is crucial for employment
70% of adults in developing countries lack fundamental digital literacy
Only 1 in 3 individuals have a basic understanding of online safety
60% of employers consider digital literacy essential for entry-level jobs
78% of teachers report needing more training to teach basic digital skills effectively
45% of adults worldwide do not know how to use email properly
65% of students with access to digital learning tools perform better academically
In rural areas, only 40% of households have reliable internet access
80% of jobs now require at least some basic digital skills
55% of seniors lack essential digital skills to navigate online health information
Digital literacy can increase employment opportunities by up to 30%
90% of cyberattacks begin with a phishing email, emphasizing the need for basic online safety knowledge
75% of small businesses believe digital skills are critical for growth

Did you know that while 85% of people worldwide believe digital skills are essential for employment, only a fraction possess the basic online safety and literacy needed to succeed in today’s digital world?

Access and Infrastructure

In rural areas, only 40% of households have reliable internet access
Only 58% of low-income households have internet access at home
Nearly 60% of students in developing countries have never used a computer
The global digital literacy rate is estimated at 60%, meaning 40% of the world's population is not digitally literate
68% of public schools in low-income areas lack access to adequate digital devices
55% of people in high-income countries have advanced digital literacy, versus 15% in low-income countries

Access and Infrastructure Interpretation

These statistics starkly highlight that digital divides persist not only between urban and rural areas but also along income lines, underscoring that without equitable access to technology and literacy, the promise of a connected world remains unfulfilled for many.

Cybersecurity and Online Safety

90% of cyberattacks begin with a phishing email, emphasizing the need for basic online safety knowledge
Digital literacy reduces the risk of falling victim to online scams by 50%
85% of adults believe that understanding digital security is essential for personal privacy

Cybersecurity and Online Safety Interpretation

Mastering basic digital literacy is the cybersecurity equivalent of locking your front door—an essential step, since 90% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email, and understanding online safety cuts scam risks in half.

Digital Literacy and Skills Development

85% of people worldwide believe that understanding basic digital skills is crucial for employment
70% of adults in developing countries lack fundamental digital literacy
Only 1 in 3 individuals have a basic understanding of online safety
45% of adults worldwide do not know how to use email properly
80% of jobs now require at least some basic digital skills
55% of seniors lack essential digital skills to navigate online health information
75% of small businesses believe digital skills are critical for growth
50% of workers in the digital economy lack formal training in basic digital skills
40% of residents in urban areas have basic digital literacy, compared to 15% in rural areas
65% of teachers feel unprepared to teach digital skills effectively
Only 35% of internet users worldwide understand what data privacy entails
40% of organizations provide digital literacy training to their employees
70% of youth in rural areas lack basic digital skills compared to 25% in urban areas
70% of internet users in emerging economies do not have a digital skills foundation
Only 25% of public libraries worldwide offer digital literacy programs
50% of small business owners do not feel confident in managing digital marketing
80% of workers believe that digital skills training should be a core part of ongoing professional development
45% of adults in high-income countries reach a basic level of digital proficiency, whereas only 10% in low-income countries do
60% of teachers think integrating digital literacy into the curriculum improves student engagement
65% of internet users do not know how to set up privacy settings on social media
40% of job postings now require basic digital skills as a prerequisite
95% of youth believe that digital skills are important for future career success
78% of digital skills training programs are underfunded in developing countries
55% of adult learning programs worldwide now include some component of digital literacy training
Only 30% of job seekers in low-income countries have basic digital skills
50% of seniors do not use the internet regularly, often due to lack of digital skills
72% of participants in digital literacy programs report increased confidence online
33% of small businesses lack digital skills necessary for e-commerce
90% of young people believe digital skills are essential for entrepreneurial success
40% of adults in the US lack basic digital literacy skills
Only 18% of online courses teach comprehensive digital literacy skills
85% of organizations see digital literacy as vital for competitive advantage
Digital literacy skills can improve productivity by up to 25%
78% of college students feel unprepared for the digital skills needed in the workplace
60% of online fraud victims had inadequate knowledge of online safety practices
90% of digital jobs require some level of basic digital literacy
48% of teachers worldwide feel confident teaching digital skills, but only 25% feel well-trained

Digital Literacy and Skills Development Interpretation

Despite the universal acknowledgment that digital literacy is essential for employment and economic growth, a staggering global divide persists—where 70% of adults in developing countries lack basic skills, only a third of individuals understand online safety, and less than half of organizations offer adequate training—highlighting that while digital skills are the currency of the future, the world's digital literacy gap remains a largely untrained, underserved, and unequipped workforce trapped in an analog past.

Education and Training

78% of teachers report needing more training to teach basic digital skills effectively
65% of students with access to digital learning tools perform better academically

Education and Training Interpretation

While a strong majority of teachers recognize the need for additional training to properly guide digital skills, the fact that 65% of students excel academically with access to these tools underscores the urgent importance of empowering educators to leverage technology effectively.

Workforce Readiness and Employment

60% of employers consider digital literacy essential for entry-level jobs
Digital literacy can increase employment opportunities by up to 30%
88% of employers state that digital skills are increasingly important in their workforce

Workforce Readiness and Employment Interpretation

With 88% of employers emphasizing digital skills' growing importance, it's clear that mastering digital literacy isn't just a trend—it's the key to unlocking more job opportunities and staying relevant in today's competitive workforce.